Brazil 2014: Super Eagles of Nigeria beats Bosnia

Nigeria earlier today defeated Bosnia Herzegovina 1-0, in one of the second round of matches in Group F at the ongoing world cup. The game started at a frenetic pace, curtsey of the Nigerians, with Ahmed Musa and Emanuel Emenike benefiting from a couple of misplaced passes from the Balkans.

Nigeria almost took the lead with a well taken Osaze Odemwingie’s free-kick after Musa was pulled back in a goal bound move.

The Bosnians had chances of theirs and would have rightfully taken the lead had the linesman not ruled Edin Dzeko’s goal offside. Replays showed that Efe Ambrose had kept him onside.

Nigeria took the lead in the 29th minute after Emenike bullied the Bosnian left back off the ball to find Osaze with a low cross. Osaze slotted the ball in between the legs of Stoke goalkeeper and teammate, Asmir Begovic to give the Nigerians the lead.

Bosnia tore through Nigeria’s midfield with ease as they played Nigeria’s midfielders in triangles. Ogenyi Onazi did not help matters as he frequently lunged into challenges, which left the midfield more open whenever he was beaten. The absence of a third man in the Nigerian midfield also did not help matters. Nigeria played Michael Babatunde as an attacking midfielder but the twenty one year old preferred to drift into the wings.

The second half was much slower as both teams tired as the game progressed. Asmir Begovic saved a couple of long range shots from Onazi and Babatunde and also denied Emenike a chance to score. Enyeama came to Nigeria’s rescue in the final seconds of the match after Dzeko had outmuscled Kenneth Omeruo to fire a low shot at the goalkeeper.